Twelfth Night
By: William Shakespeare
Directed by: Kyle Lemieux
Produced by: Junior Players
Audience Rating: G
Running Time: 150 minutes
Accessible Seating: Available
Hearing Devices: Not Available
Sensory Friendly Showing: Not Available
ASL Showing: Not Available
Sound Level: Comfortable
Audio/Visuals to Prepare For: None
Reviewed by Bradford Reilly
My high school theatre teacher had a rating system for student productions. A "1" meant he'd lean over and whisper, "You have to remember, it's a high school play." A "2" came with, "That was pretty good... for a high school play." But every so often, a show earned the elusive "3": "I can't believe that was a high school play."
Junior Players' Twelfth Night, performed August 2 at Theatre Three, earns a "3."
One of the greatest gifts the Dallas-Fort Worth theatre community offers each summer is Junior Players' free programming, giving high school students the opportunity to train alongside theatre professionals while tackling ambitious material. Shakespeare's Twelfth Night is no easy undertaking, yet the 19 students representing 9 North Texas high schools met the challenge with remarkable confidence.
The cast's greatest achievement was its ease with Shakespeare's language. They spoke it plainly and with purpose, revealing a genuine understanding of both the text and its comedy. That confidence extended into the physical storytelling, where bold comedic choices consistently grew from the text.
Nicholas McClinton was a standout as Sir Andrew Aguecheek, bringing earnest and impeccable comic timing. He also had an infectious generosity toward his scene partners. His chemistry with Elijah Harbert's delightfully rowdy Sir Toby Belch and Lennon Wolfgang Gardner's effortlessly charismatic Fabian produced some of the evening's biggest laughs, with Gardner giving Fabian the swagger of a rock star.
As Olivia, Maya Waldon demonstrated an exceptional command of Shakespeare's language, delivering each thought with clarity and intention. Her grounded portrayal made Olivia's transformation believable and deeply satisfying. Across from her, Ruby Eckian captured Viola's innocence while navigating Shakespeare's rhythm, allowing honesty to gradually win Olivia over.
Alessandra Valentina Rivas commanded attention as the delightfully sassy Mariah, deftly steering the famous prank against Malvolio. Diego Lozano found every satisfying turn in Malvolio's unraveling to great comedic effect.
Mattix Casas gave Feste an energetic physical life that added warmth while gently underscoring the play's melancholy. His performance was beautifully complemented by Martin Sanchez's vibrant motley costume and SJ Richman's wonderfully expressive clown-on-a-stick, which became a character all its own.
Director Kyle Lemieux deserves enormous credit for guiding this talented ensemble. Shakespeare performed in the round presents significant challenges. Lemieux used platforms, diagonals, and carefully composed stage pictures to direct the audience's attention with remarkable clarity. Even more impressive were the subtle moments unfolding just outside the main action. During one of Feste's songs, for example, Orsino casually placed an arm around Viola in the background. Only later did Lemieux draw the audience's attention to the emotional weight of that gesture, revealing a pivotal moment in Viola's journey.
Junior Players continues to prove what is possible when young artists are trusted with difficult material and supported by skilled professionals. This Twelfth Night wasn't impressive because it was performed by high school students. It was simply an impressive production. I couldn’t believe they were in high school.
Enjoy the show!
Bradford Reilly
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